Start Strong Fee Relief Funding: At a Glance

In a nutshell, the Start Strong Fee Relief funding is a program released by the NSW Government. Starting from 2024, it provides direct financial relief to families for preschool-aged children in eligible long day care centers.

Here are the key points:

In 2026, there will be two categories of fee relief:

Children eligible for the maximum fee relief rate can receive up to:

• $2,563 per year for children aged 4 and above
• $769 per year for children aged 3 years old.

All other children can receive up to:

• $1,783 per year for children aged 4 and above
• $423 per year for children aged 3 years old.

This means both families receiving CCS and those who don't qualify can benefit from this NSW government initiative, making early childhood education more affordable for everyone.

To use this funding, you typically need to sign a "Fee Relief Declaration and Consent" form at your childcare center.